A Hollister family was reunited with its pet pit bull that went missing for nearly a year because a woman found and kept the cute pooch, police said Thursday.

Police officers said they received a call on May 6 from a Hollister resident who said he found his pit bull, which had been missing for 11 months. The dog was walking with 45-year-old Elizabeth Gonzalez on Jacqueline Drive in Hollister, animal control officer Julie Carreiro said.

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"He said his dog, named Kimbo, recognized him and became very excited, but the person who had him on a leash refused to give him his dog," Carreiro said.

On May 7, police and animal control officers seized the dog as evidence and an investigation determined that the dog belonged to the man, not Gonzalez.

The rightful dog owner had documents and previous license information for Kimbo, and his family had raised Kimbo ever since it was a 2-month-old puppy. He filed a lost dog report in June of 2012.

Gonzalez had found and kept the dog the same month it went missing, Carreiro said. She was cited by Hollister police for theft of lost property.

"He was very happy to have his dog back (and) was very grateful to the Hollister Police Animal Control Officers for their assistance," Carreiro said. "Kimbo was also very excited and the man had Kimbo performed several tricks that he had taught him for shelter staff."

Dogs are personal property, and if you find a dog, you must contact your local animal shelter to file a found report and scan for a micro-chip. If the lost pet is not claimed the person who found the animal may be able to adopt it. Anyone wishing to rescue a dog and provide it with a home is encouraged to visit the animal shelter or visit the website to search for available pets www.hollister.ca.gov The Hollister Police Department’s Animal Control Bureau is located at 1331 South St.